Hybrid Plastics will expand its manufacturing capacity and workforce to meet increased demand of its line of POSS® molecules. The expansion will increase the company’s capability of producing liquid POSS by five times its current volume.

POSS is a chemical that bridges the gap between ceramic and organic materials to form a single molecular composition. It helps improve product performance of standard chemical additives. POSS comes in a variety of forms: powders, polymer pellets and now liquid. While the liquid form represents the top-selling form of POSS, Hybrid Plastics’ current facility was designed to only manufacture POSS in solid forms.

“When we built our first facility in 2009, we did not have liquid POSS available,” said Joe Lichtenhan, president of Hybrid Plastics. “We have since introduced this new product line of POSS, and it has been well-received by several industries like personal care, coatings, paints and oil and gas.”

Lichtenhan said the increased production of liquid POSS will carry benefits for both oil and gas production and national defense.

Hybrid Plastics’ expansion represents a multi-million dollar capital investment and will increase employment at the Hattiesburg-based plant from 20 employees to 30. The project is expected to be completed by late 2014. The company plans to use Mississippi workers for all phases of construction and engineering.